Digital processing systems and methods for context based analysis during generation of sub-board templates in collaborative work systems

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for automatic generation of customized lower-level table templates based on data in an associated higher-level table structure are disclosed. The systems and methods may involve maintaining the higher-level table structure having first rows, first columns, and first cells at intersections of first rows and first columns; receiving an input for triggering generation of a lower-level table template tied to the higher-level table structure; analyzing at least one higher-level table characteristic including higher-level table type, higher-level table grouping, higher-level table content, higher-level table size, higher-level particular column heading, higher-level particular item label, or higher-level author; determining a customization of the lower-level table template; associating the customization with the lower-level table template to form a customized lower-level table structure; and causing the lower-level table structure to be displayed in association with the higher-level table structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims benefit of priority of U.S.Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 17/242,452 filed on Apr. 28,2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.63/018,593, filed May 1, 2020, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.63/019,396, filed May 3, 2020, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.63/078,301, filed Sep. 14, 2020, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.63/121,803, filed on Dec. 4, 2020, U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 63/122,439, filed on Dec. 7, 2020, and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 63/148,092, filed on Feb. 10, 2021, the contents of allof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure include systems andmethods for collaborative work systems. The disclosed systems andmethods may be implemented using a combination of conventional hardwareand software as well as specialized hardware and software, such as amachine constructed and/or programmed specifically for performingfunctions associated with the disclosed method steps. Consistent withother disclosed embodiments, non-transitory computer-readable storagemedia may store program instructions, which may be executable by atleast one processing device and perform any of the steps and/or methodsdescribed herein.

BACKGROUND

Operation of modern enterprises can be complicated and time consuming.In many cases, managing the operation of a single project requiresintegration of several employees, departments, and other resources ofthe entity. To manage the challenging operation, project managementsoftware applications may be used. Such software applications allow auser to organize, plan, and manage resources by providingproject-related information in order to optimize the time and resourcesspent on each project. It would be useful to improve these softwareapplications to increase operation management efficiency.

SUMMARY

Consistent with some disclosed embodiments, systems, computer readablemedia, and methods for implementing conditional rules in a hierarchicaltable structure are disclosed. The embodiments may include maintainingfor presentation on a viewable interface a higher-level table structurehaving first rows, first columns and first cells at the intersections ofthe first rows and the first columns. In addition, the embodiments maymaintain for presentation on the viewable interface a lower-level tablestructure having second rows, second columns and second cells at theintersections of the second rows and second columns. Furthermore, theembodiments may link the lower-level table to a specific first cell inthe higher-level table wherein the specific first cell may be configuredto present a milestone indicator. Moreover, the embodiments may store aspecific conditional rule associating the specific first cell with aplurality of second cells of the lower-level table such that entry ofqualifying data into each of the plurality of second cells may triggerthe specific conditional rule to cause a change in the specific firstcell of the higher-level table. Furthermore, the embodiments may receivequalifying information from each of the plurality of second cells, andthe embodiments may, upon receipt of the qualifying information fromeach of the plurality of second cells, trigger the specific conditionalrule to thereby update milestone information in the specific first cellof the higher-level table.

Consistent with disclosed embodiments, systems, computer readable media,and methods for automatic generation of customized lower-level tabletemplates based on data in an associated higher-level table structureare disclosed. The embodiments may include maintaining the higher-leveltable structure having first rows, first columns, and first cells atintersections of first rows and first columns where the first cells maybe configured to hold value, and where the higher-level table structuremay exhibit a plurality of characteristics that may include at least twoof a table type, a table grouping, table content, a table size, aparticular column heading, a particular item label, or an author. Inaddition, the embodiments may receive an input for triggering generationof a lower-level table template tied to the higher-level tablestructure. Furthermore, the embodiments may analyze at least onehigher-level table characteristic including higher-level table type,higher-level table grouping, higher-level table content, higher-leveltable size, higher-level particular column heading, higher-levelparticular item label, or higher-level author. Moreover, based on theinput and the analysis, the embodiments may determine a customization ofthe lower-level table template; the customization may include at leastone of a lower-level column heading or a lower-level row heading.Furthermore, the embodiments may associate the customization with thelower-level table template to form a customized lower-level tablestructure. In addition, the embodiments may cause the lower-level tablestructure to be displayed in association with the higher-level tablestructure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing device which may beemployed in connection with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing architecture forcollaborative work systems, consistent with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example view of a hierarchical table structure,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B illustrates an example conditional rule displayed in a userinterface, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a higher-level table structure presented on aviewable interface, consistent with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a lower-level table structure presented on a viewableinterface, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example view of linking a lower-level table to aspecific cell in a higher-level table having a milestone indicator,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7A illustrates a first use case of an example view of qualifyingdata in a plurality of seconds cells triggering a specific conditionalrule to change a specific first cell, consistent with some embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 7B illustrates a first use case for a specific conditional ruleassociating the specific first cell with a plurality of second cells,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7C illustrates a second use case of an example view of qualifyingdata in a plurality of seconds cells triggering a specific conditionalrule to change a specific first cell, consistent with some embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 7D illustrates a second use case for a specific conditional ruleassociating the specific first cell with a plurality of second cells,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 8A & 8B illustrate example views of updating the specific firstcell from being empty to having an updated milestone indicator,consistent with some embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9A & 9B illustrates a specific first cell containing an originalmilestone indicator being replaced by an updated milestone indicator,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates example views of the at least one processorselectively expanding or collapsing lower-level table upon receipt of acollapsing command in a viewable interface, consistent with someembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example view of a rule-builder interface havingspecific conditions in second cells of the lower-level table triggeringthe milestone update in the first specific cell of the higher-leveltable, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates the at least one processor storing a specificconditional rule as a template for application to additional lower-leveltables, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates exemplary block diagram for an exemplary method forimplementing conditional rules in a hierarchical table structure,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example view of customized lower-level tabletemplates based on data in an associated higher-level table structure,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 illustrates examples views of receiving an input for triggeringthe generation of a lower-level table template tied to the higher-leveltable structure, consistent with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 16 illustrates determining a customization of the lower-level tabletemplate based on the input and the analysis by the at least oneprocessor, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 illustrates associating the customization with the lower-leveltable template to form a customized lower-level table structure,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 illustrates a customization of a plurality of differinglower-level table structures depending on specific characteristics ofthe higher-level table structure, consistent with some embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 19 illustrates the simultaneous display of a higher-level tablestructure, a lower-level table structure, and a sub-lower-level tablestructure based on instruction, at least one higher-level tablecharacteristic and a lower-level characteristic, consistent with someembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 illustrates exemplary block diagram for an exemplary method forautomatic generation of customized lower-level table templates based ondata in an associated higher-level table structure, consistent with someembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. While examplesand features of disclosed principles are described herein,modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possiblewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosedembodiments. Also, the words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and“including,” and other similar forms are intended to be equivalent inmeaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one ofthese words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item oritems, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. Itshould also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise.

In the following description, various working examples are provided forillustrative purposes. However, is to be understood the presentdisclosure may be practiced without one or more of these details.

Throughout, this disclosure mentions “disclosed embodiments,” whichrefer to examples of inventive ideas, concepts, and/or manifestationsdescribed herein. Many related and unrelated embodiments are describedthroughout this disclosure. The fact that some “disclosed embodiments”are described as exhibiting a feature or characteristic does not meanthat other disclosed embodiments necessarily share that feature orcharacteristic.

This disclosure presents various mechanisms for collaborative worksystems. Such systems may involve software that enables multiple usersto work collaboratively. By way of one example, workflow managementsoftware may enable various members of a team to cooperate via a commononline platform. It is intended that one or more aspects of anymechanism may be combined with one or more aspect of any othermechanisms, and such combinations are within the scope of thisdisclosure.

This disclosure is provided for the convenience of the reader to providea basic understanding of a few exemplary embodiments and does not whollydefine the breadth of the disclosure. This disclosure is not anextensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended toneither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor todelineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is topresent some features of one or more embodiments in a simplified form asa prelude to the more detailed description presented later. Forconvenience, the term “certain embodiments” or “exemplary embodiment”may be used herein to refer to a single embodiment or multipleembodiments of the disclosure.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein include devices, systems, andmethods for collaborative work systems that may allow a user to interactwith information in real time. To avoid repetition, the functionality ofsome embodiments is described herein solely in connection with aprocessor or at least one processor. It is to be understood that suchexemplary descriptions of functionality applies equally to methods andcomputer readable media and constitutes a written description ofsystems, methods, and computer readable media. The platform may allow auser to structure the system in many ways with the same building blocksto represent what the user wants to manage and how the user wants tomanage it. This may be accomplished through the use of boards. A boardmay be a table with items (e.g., individual items presented inhorizontal rows) defining objects or entities that are managed in theplatform (task, project, client, deal, etc.). Unless expressly notedotherwise, the terms “board” and “table” may be considered synonymousfor purposes of this disclosure. In some embodiments, a board maycontain information beyond which is displayed in a table. Boards mayinclude sub-boards that may have a separate structure from a board.Sub-boards may be tables with sub-items that may be related to the itemsof a board. Columns intersecting with rows of items may together definecells in which data associated with each item may be maintained. Eachcolumn may have a heading or label defining an associated data type.When used herein in combination with a column, a row may be presentedhorizontally and a column vertically. However, in the broader genericsense as used herein, the term “row” may refer to one or more of ahorizontal and a vertical presentation. A table or tablature as usedherein, refers to data presented in horizontal and vertical rows, (e.g.,horizontal rows and vertical columns) defining cells in which data ispresented. Tablature may refer to any structure for presenting data inan organized manner, as previously discussed. such as cells presented inhorizontal rows and vertical columns, vertical rows and horizontalcolumns, a tree data structure, a web chart, or any other structuredrepresentation, as explained throughout this disclosure. A cell mayrefer to a unit of information contained in the tablature defined by thestructure of the tablature. For example, a cell may be defined as anintersection between a horizontal row with a vertical column in atablature having rows and columns. A cell may also be defined as anintersection between a horizontal and a vertical row, or an intersectionbetween a horizontal and a vertical column. As a further example, a cellmay be defined as a node on a web chart or a node on a tree datastructure. As would be appreciated by a skilled artisan, however, thedisclosed embodiments are not limited to any specific structure, butrather may be practiced in conjunction with any desired organizationalarrangement. In addition, a tablature may include any suitableinformation. When used in conjunction with a workflow managementapplication, the tablature may include any information associated withone or more tasks, such as one or more status values, projects,countries, persons, teams, progresses, a combination thereof, or anyother information related to a task.

While a table view may be one way to present and manage the datacontained on a board, a table's or board's data may be presented indifferent ways. For example, in some embodiments, dashboards may beutilized to present or summarize data derived from one or more boards. Adashboard may be a non-table form of presenting data, using for examplestatic or dynamic graphical representations. A dashboard may alsoinclude multiple non-table forms of presenting data. As discussed laterin greater detail, such representations may include various forms ofgraphs or graphics. In some instances, dashboards (which may also bereferred to more generically as “widgets”) may include tablature.Software links may interconnect one or more boards with one or moredashboards thereby enabling the dashboards to reflect data presented onthe boards. This may allow, for example, data from multiple boards to bedisplayed and/or managed from a common location. These widgets mayprovide visualizations that allow a user to update data derived from oneor more boards.

Boards (or the data associated with boards) may be stored in a localmemory on a user device or may be stored in a local network repository.Boards may also be stored in a remote repository and may be accessedthrough a network. In some instances, permissions may be set to limitboard access to the board's “owner” while in other embodiments a user'sboard may be accessed by other users through any of the networksdescribed in this disclosure. When one user makes a change in a board,that change may be updated to the board stored in a memory or repositoryand may be pushed to the other user devices that access that same board.These changes may be made to cells, items, columns, boards, dashboardviews, logical rules, or any other data associated with the boards.Similarly, when cells are tied together or are mirrored across multipleboards, a change in one board may cause a cascading change in the tiedor mirrored boards or dashboards of the same or other owners.

Various embodiments are described herein with reference to a system,method, device, or computer readable medium. It is intended that thedisclosure of one is a disclosure of all. For example, it is to beunderstood that disclosure of a computer readable medium describedherein also constitutes a disclosure of methods implemented by thecomputer readable medium, and systems and devices for implementing thosemethods, via for example, at least one processor. It is to be understoodthat this form of disclosure is for ease of discussion only, and one ormore aspects of one embodiment herein may be combined with one or moreaspects of other embodiments herein, within the intended scope of thisdisclosure.

Embodiments described herein may refer to a non-transitory computerreadable medium containing instructions that when executed by at leastone processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method.Non-transitory computer readable mediums may be any medium capable ofstoring data in any memory in a way that may be read by any computingdevice with a processor to carry out methods or any other instructionsstored in the memory. The non-transitory computer readable medium may beimplemented as hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof.Moreover, the software may preferably be implemented as an applicationprogram tangibly embodied on a program storage unit or computer readablemedium consisting of parts, or of certain devices and/or a combinationof devices. The application program may be uploaded to, and executed by,a machine comprising any suitable architecture. Preferably, the machinemay be implemented on a computer platform having hardware such as one ormore central processing units (“CPUs”), a memory, and input/outputinterfaces. The computer platform may also include an operating systemand microinstruction code. The various processes and functions describedin this disclosure may be either part of the microinstruction code orpart of the application program, or any combination thereof, which maybe executed by a CPU, whether or not such a computer or processor isexplicitly shown. In addition, various other peripheral units may beconnected to the computer platform such as an additional data storageunit and a printing unit. Furthermore, a non-transitory computerreadable medium may be any computer readable medium except for atransitory propagating signal.

The memory may include a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read-Only Memory(ROM), a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetic medium, a flash memory,other permanent, fixed, volatile or non-volatile memory, or any othermechanism capable of storing instructions. The memory may include one ormore separate storage devices collocated or disbursed, capable ofstoring data structures, instructions, or any other data. The memory mayfurther include a memory portion containing instructions for theprocessor to execute. The memory may also be used as a working scratchpad for the processors or as a temporary storage.

Some embodiments may involve at least one processor. A processor may beany physical device or group of devices having electric circuitry thatperforms a logic operation on input or inputs. For example, the at leastone processor may include one or more integrated circuits (IC),including application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), microchips,microcontrollers, microprocessors, all or part of a central processingunit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), digital signal processor(DSP), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), server, virtual server, orother circuits suitable for executing instructions or performing logicoperations. The instructions executed by at least one processor may, forexample, be pre-loaded into a memory integrated with or embedded intothe controller or may be stored in a separate memory.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor may include more thanone processor. Each processor may have a similar construction, or theprocessors may be of differing constructions that are electricallyconnected or disconnected from each other. For example, the processorsmay be separate circuits or integrated in a single circuit. When morethan one processor is used, the processors may be configured to operateindependently or collaboratively. The processors may be coupledelectrically, magnetically, optically, acoustically, mechanically or byother means that permit them to interact.

Consistent with the present disclosure, disclosed embodiments mayinvolve a network. A network may constitute any type of physical orwireless computer networking arrangement used to exchange data. Forexample, a network may be the Internet, a private data network, avirtual private network using a public network, a Wi-Fi network, a LANor WAN network, and/or other suitable connections that may enableinformation exchange among various components of the system. In someembodiments, a network may include one or more physical links used toexchange data, such as Ethernet, coaxial cables, twisted pair cables,fiber optics, or any other suitable physical medium for exchanging data.A network may also include a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”)and/or a wireless cellular network. A network may be a secured networkor unsecured network. In other embodiments, one or more components ofthe system may communicate directly through a dedicated communicationnetwork. Direct communications may use any suitable technologies,including, for example, BLUETOOTH™, BLUETOOTH LE™ (BLE), Wi-Fi, nearfield communications (NFC), or other suitable communication methods thatprovide a medium for exchanging data and/or information between separateentities.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein may also include a computing devicefor generating features for work collaborative systems, the computingdevice may include processing circuitry communicatively connected to anetwork interface and to a memory, wherein the memory containsinstructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, configurethe computing device to receive from a user device associated with auser account instruction to generate a new column of a single data typefor a first data structure, wherein the first data structure may be acolumn oriented data structure, and store, based on the instructions,the new column within the column-oriented data structure repository,wherein the column-oriented data structure repository may be accessibleand may be displayed as a display feature to the user and at least asecond user account. The computing devices may be devices such as mobiledevices, desktops, laptops, tablets, or any other devices capable ofprocessing data. Such computing devices may include a display such as anLED display, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) display.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein may include a processor configuredto perform methods that may include triggering an action in response toan input. The input may be from a user action or from a change ofinformation contained in a user's table, in another table, acrossmultiple tables, across multiple user devices, or from third-partyapplications. Triggering may be caused manually, such as through a useraction, or may be caused automatically, such as through a logical rule,logical combination rule, or logical templates associated with a board.For example, a trigger may include an input of a data item that isrecognized by at least one processor that brings about another action.

In some embodiments, the methods including triggering may cause analteration of data and may also cause an alteration of display of datacontained in a board or in memory. An alteration of data may include arecalculation of data, the addition of data, the subtraction of data, ora rearrangement of information. Further, triggering may also cause acommunication to be sent to a user, other individuals, or groups ofindividuals. The communication may be a notification within the systemor may be a notification outside of the system through a contact addresssuch as by email, phone call, text message, video conferencing, or anyother third-party communication application.

Some embodiments include one or more of automations, logical rules,logical sentence structures and logical (sentence structure) templates.While these terms are described herein in differing contexts, in abroadest sense, in each instance an automation may include a processthat responds to a trigger or condition to produce an outcome; a logicalrule may underly the automation in order to implement the automation viaa set of instructions; a logical sentence structure is one way for auser to define an automation; and a logical template/logical sentencestructure template may be a fill-in-the-blank tool used to construct alogical sentence structure. While all automations may have an underlyinglogical rule, all automations need not implement that rule through alogical sentence structure. Any other manner of defining a process thatrespond to a trigger or condition to produce an outcome may be used toconstruct an automation.

Other terms used throughout this disclosure in differing exemplarycontexts may generally share the following common definitions.

In some embodiments, machine learning algorithms (also referred to asmachine learning models or artificial intelligence in the presentdisclosure) may be trained using training examples, for example in thecases described below. Some non-limiting examples of such machinelearning algorithms may include classification algorithms, dataregressions algorithms, image segmentation algorithms, visual detectionalgorithms (such as object detectors, face detectors, person detectors,motion detectors, edge detectors, etc.), visual recognition algorithms(such as face recognition, person recognition, object recognition,etc.), speech recognition algorithms, mathematical embedding algorithms,natural language processing algorithms, support vector machines, randomforests, nearest neighbors algorithms, deep learning algorithms,artificial neural network algorithms, convolutional neural networkalgorithms, recursive neural network algorithms, linear machine learningmodels, non-linear machine learning models, ensemble algorithms, and soforth. For example, a trained machine learning algorithm may comprise aninference model, such as a predictive model, a classification model, aregression model, a clustering model, a segmentation model, anartificial neural network (such as a deep neural network, aconvolutional neural network, a recursive neural network, etc.), arandom forest, a support vector machine, and so forth. In some examples,the training examples may include example inputs together with thedesired outputs corresponding to the example inputs. Further, in someexamples, training machine learning algorithms using the trainingexamples may generate a trained machine learning algorithm, and thetrained machine learning algorithm may be used to estimate outputs forinputs not included in the training examples. In some examples,engineers, scientists, processes and machines that train machinelearning algorithms may further use validation examples and/or testexamples. For example, validation examples and/or test examples mayinclude example inputs together with the desired outputs correspondingto the example inputs, a trained machine learning algorithm and/or anintermediately trained machine learning algorithm may be used toestimate outputs for the example inputs of the validation examplesand/or test examples, the estimated outputs may be compared to thecorresponding desired outputs, and the trained machine learningalgorithm and/or the intermediately trained machine learning algorithmmay be evaluated based on a result of the comparison. In some examples,a machine learning algorithm may have parameters and hyper parameters,where the hyper parameters are set manually by a person or automaticallyby a process external to the machine learning algorithm (such as a hyperparameter search algorithm), and the parameters of the machine learningalgorithm are set by the machine learning algorithm according to thetraining examples. In some implementations, the hyper-parameters are setaccording to the training examples and the validation examples, and theparameters are set according to the training examples and the selectedhyper-parameters.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing device 100 forgenerating a column and/or row oriented data structure repository fordata consistent with some embodiments. The computing device 100 mayinclude processing circuitry 110, such as, for example, a centralprocessing unit (CPU). In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 110may include, or may be a component of, a larger processing unitimplemented with one or more processors. The one or more processors maybe implemented with any combination of general-purpose microprocessors,microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmablegate array (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers,state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware components, dedicatedhardware finite state machines, or any other suitable entities that canperform calculations or other manipulations of information. Theprocessing circuitry such as processing circuitry 110 may be coupled viaa bus 105 to a memory 120.

The memory 120 may further include a memory portion 122 that may containinstructions that when executed by the processing circuitry 110, mayperform the method described in more detail herein. The memory 120 maybe further used as a working scratch pad for the processing circuitry110, a temporary storage, and others, as the case may be. The memory 120may be a volatile memory such as, but not limited to, random accessmemory (RAM), or non-volatile memory (NVM), such as, but not limited to,flash memory. The processing circuitry 110 may be further connected to anetwork device 140, such as a network interface card, for providingconnectivity between the computing device 100 and a network, such as anetwork 210, discussed in more detail with respect to FIG. 2 below. Theprocessing circuitry 110 may be further coupled with a storage device130. The storage device 130 may be used for the purpose of storingsingle data type column-oriented data structures, data elementsassociated with the data structures, or any other data structures. Whileillustrated in FIG. 1 as a single device, it is to be understood thatstorage device 130 may include multiple devices either collocated ordistributed.

The processing circuitry 110 and/or the memory 120 may also includemachine-readable media for storing software. “Software” as used hereinrefers broadly to any type of instructions, whether referred to assoftware, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware descriptionlanguage, or otherwise. Instructions may include code (e.g., in sourcecode format, binary code format, executable code format, or any othersuitable format of code). The instructions, when executed by the one ormore processors, may cause the processing system to perform the variousfunctions described in further detail herein.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of computing architecture 200 that may be usedin connection with various disclosed embodiments. The computing device100, as described in connection with FIG. 1, may be coupled to network210. The network 210 may enable communication between different elementsthat may be communicatively coupled with the computing device 100, asfurther described below. The network 210 may include the Internet, theworld-wide-web (WWW), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a metro area network (MAN), and other networks capable ofenabling communication between the elementsof the computing architecture200. In some disclosed embodiments, the computing device 100 may be aserver deployed in a cloud computing environment.

One or more user devices 220-1 through user device 220-m, where ‘m’ inan integer equal to or greater than 1, referred to individually as userdevice 220 and collectively as user devices 220, may be communicativelycoupled with the computing device 100 via the network 210. A user device220 may be for example, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a laptop, atablet computer, a wearable computing device, a personal computer (PC),a smart television and the like. A user device 220 may be configured tosend to and receive from the computing device 100 data and/or metadataassociated with a variety of elements associated with single data typecolumn-oriented data structures, such as columns, rows, cells, schemas,and the like.

One or more data repositories 230-1 through data repository 230-n, where‘n’ in an integer equal to or greater than 1, referred to individuallyas data repository 230 and collectively as data repository 230, may becommunicatively coupled with the computing device 100 via the network210, or embedded within the computing device 100. Each data repository230 may be communicatively connected to the network 210 through one ormore database management services (DBMS) 235-1 through DBMS 235-n. Thedata repository 230 may be for example, a storage device containing adatabase, a data warehouse, and the like, that may be used for storingdata structures, data items, metadata, or any information, as furtherdescribed below. In some embodiments, one or more of the repositoriesmay be distributed over several physical storage devices, e.g., in acloud-based computing environment. Any storage device may be a networkaccessible storage device, or a component of the computing device 100.

Aspects of this disclosure may provide a technical solution tochallenges associated with collaborative work systems. Disclosedembodiments include methods, systems, devices, and computer-readablemedia. For ease of discussion, an example system for automaticgeneration of customized lower-level table templates based on data in anassociated higher-level table structure is described below with theunderstanding that aspects of the example system apply equally tomethods, devices, and computer-readable media. For example, some aspectsof such a system may be implemented by a computing device or softwarerunning thereon. The computing device may include at least one processor(e.g., a CPU, GPU, DSP, FPGA, ASIC, or any circuitry for performinglogical operations on input data) to perform the example systems, asdescribed above. Other aspects of such systems may be implemented over anetwork (e.g., a wired network, a wireless network, or both).

Tools for automatic generation of customized lower-level table templatesbased on data in an associated higher-level table structure are lacking.Accordingly, the automatic generation of customized lower-level tabletemplates based on data in an associated higher-level table structuremay create efficiencies in data processing, reduce costs associated withmemory, distributed memory, communication across multiple networks, andreliability needed in processors, and improve accuracy in the generationand display of customized lower-level table templates, lower-level tablestructure (which may include default values in its cells), andassociated higher-level table structure.

Therefore, there is a need for unconventional methods, systems, devices,and computer-readable media for automatic generation of customizedlower-level table templates based on data in an associated higher-leveltable structure. By using the disclosed computerized methods toascertain the automatic generation of customized lower-level tabletemplates based on data in an associated higher-level table structure,the embodiments provide advantages over prior systems that merelyprovide on demand table structures.

Some aspects of such system may be implemented as operations or programcodes in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The operations orprogram codes may be executed by at least one processor. Non-transitorycomputer readable mediums, as described herein, may be implemented asany combination of hardware, firmware, software, or any medium capableof storing data that is readable by any computing device with aprocessor for performing methods or operations represented by the storeddata. In a broadest sense, the example systems are not limited toparticular physical or electronic instrumentalities, but rather may beaccomplished using many differing instrumentalities.

Some disclosed embodiments may relate to a system for implementingconditional rules in a hierarchical table structure having at least oneprocessor (e.g., processor, processing circuit or other processingstructure described herein) in collaborative work systems, includingmethods, devices, and computer-readable media. Conditional rules mayrefer to rules or instructions that may be tied to logical organizationof elements for implementing one or more conditional actions. In someinstances, the logical organization of elements may be a semanticstatement (e.g., a sentence) or conditional statement (e.g., “if X thenY”). In some instances, the conditional rules may be referred to as an“automation” or a “recipe.” The conditional rules may be implemented asprogram codes or instructions stored in a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of the system. The conditional rule may includeone or more triggering elements (also may be referred to as “triggers”)and one or more action elements (also may be referred to as “actions”).A trigger of the conditional rule may refer to an event or a condition,the occurrence or satisfaction of which may cause another event in thesystem that implements the conditional rules. An action of theconditional rule may refer to a change of one or more components of thesystem. A hierarchical table structure may refer to one or more tablesarranged or organized into a tree-like structure, a cascade of tables,an array of tables, a network of tables featuring links, or a lattice oftables featuring connections between elements of a table. The one ormore tables may be represented or structured as being above, below,inside or at the same level to one another. A table may include of anynumber horizontal and vertical rows (e.g., rows and columns). A tablemay be in a form of a board, a sub-board, an array, a grid, a datasheet,a set of tabulated data, a set of comma separated values (CSV), a chart,a matrix, or any other two or greater dimensional systematic arrangementof data or information. The structure of the one or more tables may bethe same or different in the number of rows and columns. Furthermore,the hierarchical table structure may consist of one or more tablesnested or embedded (may also be referred to as “sub-table,” “sub-board,”or “sub-item”) inside a row, a column, or a cell of another table. Theone or more tables may be linked to each other by way of the rows,columns, or cells of the tables. Furthermore, the hierarchical tablestructure may be arranged and organized with interrelated or unrelatedelements containing data or information in the cells of the tables. Forexample, a hierarchical table may consist of altering data orinformation associated with a cell, a row of cells, or a column of cellsin response to a trigger in a conditional rule causing an action tochange data or information in a cell, row of cells, or column of cellsin another table being above, below, inside, nested, or embedded.

By way of example, FIG. 3A illustrates an example view of a hierarchicaltable structure. FIG. 3A may include a hierarchical table structure 300Ahaving a first table 302A and a second table 304A. The first table 302Amay be structured with a plurality of rows and columns displaying data.The second table 304A may have the same structure as the first table.Furthermore, the first row 306A may contain an embedded or sub-table308A having a different structure from the first table and the secondtable. A sub-table may be associated with each of the first table 302Aand/or the second table 304A and may have its own number of rows andcolumns that may be different or the same as the first table or thesecond table.

In another example, FIG. 3B illustrates an example conditional rule 320Bdisplayed in a user interface 320B. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the userinterface 320B may be displayed on a computing device (e.g., thecomputing device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1) or software running thereon.For example, the user interface 320B may be a portion of a graphicaluser interface (GUI), such as a webpage or a mobile application GUIdisplayed on a screen of the computing device 100. As illustrated inFIG. 3B, the user interface 320B displays conditional rule 322B (“Whenthis happens, do something”) as a whole or a partial sentence. Theconditional rule 322B may include a trigger “when this happens” and anaction “do something.” In accordance with the conditional rule 322B,when the condition “this” is satisfied or the event “this” occurs, thesystem may cause “something” to occur (i.e., a change of a component orhierarchical table). Furthermore, the conditional rule 322B includespredefined requirements “when,” “happens,” and “do,” and user-definablerequirements “this” and “something.” For example, the predefinedrequirement “when” may only be activated as a whole by receiving a userinput indicating that a user selects an interactive element 324B (e.g.,a button). In another example, the predefined requirement “when” mayonly be deactivated as a whole by receiving a user input indicating thata user clicks an interactive element 326B (e.g., a button) so that thepredefined requirement may be removed and may be replaced.

Consistent with some disclosed embodiments, at least one processor ofthe system may carry out operations that may involve maintaining forpresentation on a viewable interface a higher-level table structurehaving first rows, first columns and first cells at intersections offirst rows and first columns. Maintaining a higher-level table structurefor presentation on a viewable interface may involve storing ahigher-level table structure in memory that may be accessed for apresentation or display on any viewable interface. A viewable interfacemay involve a user interface or a graphical user interface (GUI) thatmay be a web page, a mobile-application interface, a software interface,or any graphical interface that could enable interactions between ahuman and a machine via an interactive element. The viewable interfacemay include, for example, a monitor, touchscreen display, projector,AR/VR lens, or any other viewable interface. The interactive element mayinclude any device such as a mouse cursor, a touchable area (as on atouchscreen), an application program interface (API) that receives akeyboard input, or any hardware or software component that may receiveuser inputs. A higher-level table structure or higher-level table mayrefer to a table, as described above, having a hierarchy that may beabove other tables (e.g., a main table). The higher-level tablestructure may include one or more tables nested or embedded beneath arow, a column, or a cell of the higher-level table. The higher-leveltable structure may include any combination of structures such as rows,columns, and cells at the intersections of the rows and columns. Thehigher-level table structure may be configured to contain informationthat may be subsequently changed or altered. References made to “first,”“second,” and so on do not necessarily indicate an order and may be usedin reference to a particular group.

By way of example, FIG. 4 illustrates a higher-level table structure 402presented on a viewable interface 400. As illustrated in FIG. 4, theviewable interface 400 may be displayed or presented with thehigher-level table structure 402. The higher-level table structure 402may have a first plurality of columns 404, rows 406, and representativecells 408 and 410. The higher-table structure 402 may have subitem cell408 that may contain an embedded or nested table (not shown). A user mayclick subitem cell 408 in viewable interface 400 to display the embeddedor nested table.

In some embodiments, at least one processor of the system may carry outoperations that may involve maintaining for presentation on the viewableinterface a lower-level table structure having second rows, secondcolumns and second cells at intersections of second rows and secondcolumns. A lower-level table structure or lower-level table may refer toa table, as described above, having a hierarchy that may be below thehigher-level table structure, as described above. The lower-level tablestructure may be positioned under a first row, a first column, or afirst cell of a higher-level table structure. The lower-level tablestructure may also have the same functions or characteristics of thehigher-level table, such as table structure or associations withautomations. The lower-level table structure may have the same structureas the higher-level table structure, or may have a structure that isindependent from the higher-level table structure. Similar to thehigher-level table structure, the lower-level table structure may alsocontain another embedded or nested table beneath its rows, columns, orcells (which may be referred to as the second rows, second, columns, andsecond cells). A change or alteration of the data (information orarrangement of information) in the lower-level table structure maysubsequently also change or alter the data in the higher-level tablestructure, and vice-versa. Furthermore, the lower-level table structureincludes nested or embedded tables underneath its second rows, secondcolumns, or second cells. A change or alteration of the data containedin the nested or embedded tables of the lower-level table structure mayin turn change or alter the data of the lower-level table structure, andvice-versa.

By way of example, FIG. 5 illustrates a lower-level table structure 504presented on a viewable interface 500, consistent with some embodimentsof the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the viewableinterface 500 may display a first row 502 of a higher-level tablestructure. The lower-level table structure 504 may be positioned as anindentation under the first row 502 or in any other manner to indicatethat it is associated with the higher-level table structure. Thelower-level table 504 may contain a plurality of rows 506, columns 508,and cells 510.

Consistent with some disclosed embodiments, at least one processor ofthe system may carry out operations that may involve linking thelower-level table to a specific first cell in the higher-level table,wherein the specific first cell is configured to present a milestoneindicator. Linking the lower-level table to a specific first cell in thehigher-level table may refer to establishing a relationship via a linkbetween the one or more elements of the lower-level table and a specificcell in the higher-level table. By activating this link, a user may beable to access information in either the specific cell in thehigher-level table or information in the lower-level table tied to thatspecific cell of the higher-level table. For example, one or more secondcells (e.g., elements) in the lower-level table may be linked to aspecific cell in the higher-level table. A change in information in thelower-level table may cause the link to the specific cell to beactivated, which may cause a change or alteration in the data orinformation of the specific cell of the higher-level table. A milestoneindicator may refer to a marker, a designation, a reference point, orany other indication representative of milestone information. Theindicator may include any indication such as through alphanumerics,graphics, dynamic information, or a combination thereof. For example, amilestone indicator may enable a user to view the status of tasks orgoals for a project or event. For instance, a milestone indicator maymark a specific point along a project timeline (e.g., start, middlephase, end phase, and so on), an indication of importance or conditionof an activity associated with a project task. The milestone indicatormay be a marker or signal that may express the success or completion ofa task. For example, the specific first cell may display summaryinformation through graphical representation (e.g., text, numbers,alphanumeric, symbols, forms, or a combination thereof) associated withthe data or information in the second cells of the lower-level tablestructure. A user may obtain summary information from the specific cellto reach a conclusion of the status of the project without necessarilyseeing the data or information contained in the second cells of thelower-level table. A change in the one or more second cells may alterthe milestone indicator in the specific first cell.

By way of example, FIG. 6 illustrates linking a lower-level table to aspecific cell in a higher-level table, the specific call including amilestone indicator. As illustrated in FIG. 6, higher-level table 600may have a first row 602 with a specific first cell 604 displaying a“stage” milestone indicator. The specific first cell 604 may be linkedto a lower-level table 606. When a second “status” cell 608 of thelower-level table 606 changes from being empty to displaying the status“Working on it,” the specific first cell 604 displays the milestoneindicator of “Full Design” as a stage, since the second “status” cell608 is associated with the “Full Design” stage of the project inlower-level table 606.

In some embodiments, at least one processor of the system may carry outoperations that may involve storing a specific conditional ruleassociating the specific first cell with a plurality of second cells ofthe lower-level table, such that entry of qualifying data into each ofthe plurality of second cells triggers the specific conditional rule tocause a change in the specific first cell of the higher-level table. Aplurality of second cells may refer to cells that may be adjacent (e.g.,sharing the same borders, preceding each other, touching, adjoining,contiguous, juxtaposed, being in close proximity, or being nearby, orany other combination thereof) to each other that may be associated withthe lower-level table. Storing a specific conditional rule may refer toa particular conditional rule, as described above, that may be stored inmemory or a repository. The specific conditional rule may be associatedwith a specific cell of the higher-level table structure and theplurality of second cells associated with the lower-level tablestructure such that information contained in the specific cell of thehigher-level table structure may be affected or otherwise altered inresponse to information associated with the plurality of second cells,according to the specific conditional rule. The specific conditionalrule may have one or more triggers and one or more actions that maycause the specific cell to change or alter summary information based onchanges in the second rows, columns, cells of the lower-level table thatmeet the conditional triggers (triggered in response to a thresholdbeing met). Qualifying data may refer to any information that meets athreshold and thereby qualify to meet a condition that may trigger aconditional rule. The qualifying data may include but is not limited toone or more keywords, values, qualifiers that may be represented asnumbers, letters of the alphabets, alpha-numeric values, syntax, ormathematical expressions, or any other representation or combinationthereof. The qualifying data may be entered data in a cell or may beselected from a list of values. For example, the qualifying data may bea constant from a list of values associated with a milestone indicator.A column in the lower-level table may include a “status” column that maydisplay milestone indicators such as “Working on it,” “Stuck,” or “Done”as options that a user may select. The user may select label “Done” toprovide the status associated a task in the lower-level table. Thestatus of “Done” in the lower-level table may be qualifying data thatmay trigger a conditional rule that alters a specific cell of thehigher-level table to reflect that all of the sub-tasks in thelower-level table structure have been marked “Done.” For example, wherea lower-level table contains multiple sub-tasks for different phases ofa project, a conditional rule may be configured to reflect the progressof the sub-tasks in a specific cell of the higher-level table structure,such as a number of sub-tasks completed or a phase in which thesub-tasks are in progress.

By way of example, FIG. 7A illustrates a use case of an example view ofqualifying data in a plurality of seconds cells in a lower-level tablestructure triggering a specific conditional rule to change a specificfirst cell of a higher-level table structure. As illustrated in FIG. 7A,higher-level table 700A may include a “Stage” first column 702A, whichmay include varying input options such as “Research,” “Exploration,”“Full Design,” and “Design Complete.” A specific first cell 704A maydisplay information as a milestone indicator that the current stage is“Research.” The higher-level table 700A may include a lower-level table706A. The lower-level table may include a “Subitem” column 708A, a“Status” column 710A, and a “Stage” column 712A. The “Subitem” column708A may include a plurality of cells displaying different tasksassociated with qualifying data for the stage, as shown in the “Stage”column 712A. The “Status” column 710A and “Stage” column 712A maydisplay milestone indicators with respect to each of the subitems. The“Status” column 710A may also be associated with different input optionssuch as “Done,” “Stuck,” or “Working on it” for its plurality of cells.The “Stage” column 712A may input options such as “Research,”“Exploration,” “Full Design,” and “Design Complete” for its plurality ofcells. A cell 714A of the lower-level table 706A may include a milestoneindicator such as “Working on it,” and another cell 716A of thelower-level table 706A may include a milestone indicator of “Research.”A specific conditional rule 720B of FIG. 7B may associate the specificcell 704A of the higher-level table 700A to the plurality of cells in“Status” column 710A and “Stage” column 712A of the lower-level tablestructure 706A. As a user or owner may start performing a task listed inthe plurality of second cells under “Subitems” column 708A, the cell714A and cell 716A may have as milestone indicators “Working on it” and“Research,” which may be the qualifying data that may trigger thespecific conditional rule 720B (of FIG. 7B) to alter the specific cell704A to display that the project is currently in the “Research” stage.

In another example, FIG. 7B illustrates an exemplary conditional ruleassociating a specific first cell (of a higher-level table) with aplurality of second cells (of a lower-level table), consistent with someembodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 7B,specific conditional rule 720B may include a conditional statement—“Whensubitem Status changes to anything and subitem Stage is Research, setStage to Research.” Specific conditional rule 720B may also includetriggers—“When subitem Status changes to anything” and “subitem Stage isResearch”—and actions—“set Stage to Research.” Each of the configurablefields 722B, 724B, 728B, 730B, 734B, and 736B of the conditional rule720B may be configured by an input, such as a selection a pick listassociated with each of the fields (e.g., pick lists 738B, 726B, and732B). Each of the configurable fields may be mapped to specificcolumns, for example, from a higher-level or lower-level table as shownin FIG. 7A. The trigger, “subitem Status” 722B, may be linked to the“Status” column 710A in FIG. 7A. The trigger, “anything” 724B, may be anindication that any of the statuses (e.g., Done, Working on it, Stuck)may be considered to be qualifying data for the plurality of secondcells in the “Status” column 710A of FIG. 7A. The trigger, “subitemStage” 728B may be linked to the “Stage” column 712A of FIG. 7A. Thetrigger “Research” 730B may be the qualifying data necessary to triggerthe conditional rule 720B to carry out the action of “set Stage toResearch,” as indicated by the remainder of the conditional rule 720B inFIG. 7B.

FIG. 7C illustrates another case of an example view of qualifying datain a plurality of seconds cells of a lower-level table triggering aspecific conditional rule to change a specific first cell of ahigher-level table, consistent with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 7C, higher-level table 740C mayinclude a “Stage” first column 742C having a specific first cell 744C.The higher-level table 740C may also include lower-level table 746C thatmay include “Subitems” second column 748C, “Status” second column 750C,“Milespost” second column 752C, and “Stage” second column 754C. Aspecific conditional rule 760D, described further below in reference toFIG. 7D, may be triggered to cause the specific first cell 744C todisplay as milestone indicator “Full Design” because the cell 756C andthe cells above it have been marked “Done,” which all may be qualifyingdata that trigger the conditional rule 760D. Additionally oralternatively, another cell 758C may be marked as “Reached” to indicatethat all of the previous subitems have reached a particular milepost,which may be the qualifying data for triggering the conditional rule760D. In both of these situations, cell 756C and 758C are bothassociated with a “Full Design” stage as indicated by cell 760C, whichmay also be considered qualifying data for triggering the conditionalrule 760D to update the specific cell 744C to present a “Full Design”stage to reflect the progress in the lower-level table 746C.

FIG. 7D illustrates a specific conditional rule (associated with theexample shown in FIG. 7C) associating the specific first cell of ahigher-level table with a plurality of second cells of a lower-leveltable. As illustrated in FIG. 7D, specific conditional rule 760D mayinclude a conditional statement—“When subitem Status changes to Done andsubitem Milespost is Reached and subitem Stage is Full Design set Stageto Full Design.” Specific conditional rule 760D may also includetriggers and actions similar to the conditional rule 720B of FIG. 7B.Each of the configurable or definable fields 762D, 764D, 768D, 770D,774D, 776D, 780D, and 782D may be defined by a user in any manner, suchas through picklists as shown in FIG. 7D. The pick lists 766D, 772D,778D, and 784D may be based on information contained in either thehigher-level table 740C or lower-level table 746C of FIG. 7C. Thespecific conditional rule 760D of FIG. 7D may be configured to monitorfor qualifying data (e.g., subitems Statuses changing to Done 764D andsubitem Milespost is Reached 770D) to cause the specific conditionalrule 760D to be triggered and cause an action (e.g., setting Stage toFull Design 782D).

In some embodiments, the at least one processor of the system may carryout operations that may involve receiving qualifying information fromeach of the plurality of second cells. Qualifying information may referto any information that meets a threshold or condition, similar to theprevious reference to qualifying data. The at least one processor mayuse the qualifying information in one or more cells of a hierarchicaltable to determine whether to trigger a conditional rule, as describedpreviously. For example, the at least one processor may receive thequalifying information as a variable declaring the statement “True” or“False” that the qualifying data in each of a plurality of second cellsin a lower-level table may meet or not meet the triggers established ina specific conditional rule.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor of the system may carryout operations that may involve upon receipt of the qualifyinginformation from each of the plurality of second cells, triggering thespecific conditional rule to thereby update milestone information in thespecific first cell of the higher-level table. Updating milestoneinformation may refer to the addition, deletion, rearrangement, or anyother modification or combination thereof of information related to amilestone that may be included in a cell of the higher-level orlower-level table. Updating milestone information may occurautomatically based on a logical rule associated with a specificconditional rule that monitors conditions and qualifying information (ofa lower-level table) that meet those conditions before triggering theupdate of milestone information in a specific cell of a higher-leveltable, as previously described above in the exemplary use cases.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor of the system may carryout operations that may involve, wherein prior to updating the specificfirst cell, the specific first cell being empty and updating may causethe milestone indicator to be added to the specific first cell. A cellbeing empty may include a cell of a table that does not containinformation but may still be a part of other functions such as aconditional rule, as previously discussed. Depending on the conditionalrule, qualifying data from the lower-level table may cause theconditional rule to be triggered to cause an update in a specific cellof the higher-level table that was previously empty so that the specificcell then becomes populated with an indication of a milestone of theinformation associated in the lower-level table.

By way of example, FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate updating the specificfirst cell from being empty to having an updated milestone indicator,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Asillustrated in FIG. 8A, higher-level table 800A may contain the firstrow 802A including an empty specific cell 804A to present an indicationof information contained in the lower-level table 706A′ s plurality ofcells 808A. The same higher-level table 800B in FIG. 8B may contain thefirst row 812B including the same specific cell 814B being updated toadd the milestone indicator “Design Complete” because the plurality ofcells 818B in lower-level table 816B may be the qualifying informationfor a conditional rule that populated the previously empty cell 804A tobe updated with milestone information in updated cell 814B.

In some embodiments, the at least one processor of the system may carryout operations that may involve the specific first cell containing anoriginal milestone indicator and updating may cause the originalmilestone indicator to be replaced by an updated milestone indicatorthereby reflecting progress in a workflow. An original milestoneindicator may include any milestone indicator as previously discussedand may be different from an updated milestone indicator. For example,an original milestone indicator may include an indication of“Preliminary Design Stage,” and an updated milestone indicator maycontain the indication of “Critical Design Stage” that may be updated asa result of a conditional rule being triggered to reflect the progressof a workflow contained in a lower-level table. A workflow may refer tocombination of structures such as tasks or activities that may organizea project or any other activity. For example, a workflow may include asequence of tasks such as a “Research Phase,” an “Exploration Phase,” a“Full Design Phase,” and followed by a “Design Complete Phase.” Thesesequences may represent different milestones in a project configured bya user or may be provided as a preset by the system.

By way of example, FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a specific first cellcontaining an original milestone indicator being replaced by an updatedmilestone indicator, consistent with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the higher-level table 900A maycontain the specific cell 902A having the original milestone indicator“Exploration” based on information contained in the plurality of cells904A in lower-level table 906A. The lower-level table 906A may containthe workflow milestones of “Research,” “Exploration,” “Full Design,” and“Design Complete. FIG. 9B illustrates the same higher-level table 910Bcontaining the same specific cell 912B having an updated milestoneindicator “Full Design” being the third task in the workflow due to thestatus of the information in the plurality of cells 914B in the samelower-level table 916B.

Some embodiments may involve the at least one processor being furtherconfigured to cause a lower-level table to be selectively expandable andcollapsible on a viewable interface and upon receipt of a collapsingcommand, may cause the lower-level table to be hidden from view.Selectively expandable and collapsible may refer to the ability orcapacity to receive a selection from any interface to display (e.g.expand or make visible) or reduce (e.g., minimize, hide, obfuscate)information from a particular lower-level table. A collapsing commandmay refer to instructions not limited to pressing or clicking a buttonby a user to request the at least one processor to collapse thelower-level table such that it may be hidden from view in the viewableinterface, as previously described. Being hidden from view may includeany reduction of viewability of information, such as a minimization ofinformation, complete removal, or partial reduction in viewability.There may also be an expanding command having instructions not limitedto pressing or clicking a button by the user to request the at least oneprocessor to expand the lower-level table such that it may be visiblefrom view in the viewable interface.

FIG. 10 illustrates example views of the at least one processorselectively collapsing lower-level table upon receipt of a collapsingcommand in a viewable interface, consistent with some embodiments of thepresent disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 10, a first view 1000 of theviewable interface may display a lower-level table 1002. The at leastone processor may, upon receipt of a collapsing command 1004, collapsethe lower-level table 1002 as shown in collapsed view 1006. In thecollapsed view 1006 of the same viewable interface, the lower-leveltable 1002 from the first view may be collapsed such that it may behidden from view as compared to the first view 1000.

Some embodiments may involve the at least one processor furtherconfigured to receive from a rule-builder interface, specific conditionsin second cells of the lower-level table that may trigger the milestoneupdate in the first specific cell of the higher-level table. Arule-builder interface may refer to a viewable interface specificallydedicated to forming, establishing, and executing conditional rules. Therule builder-interface may enable the selection of a customizedconditional rule or pre-defined conditional rule, enable input foruser-definable requirements into a selected conditional rule, enableassociation of the selected conditional rule to structures in thehigher-level and lower-level tables.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example view of a rule-builder interface havingspecific conditions in cells of the lower-level table triggering themilestone update in the specific cell of the higher-level table,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, rule-builder interface 1100 may include aspecific conditional rule 760D with a conditional rule trigger 1102, aconditional rule action 1104, pre-defined conditional rule options 1106from which a user may select to build a conditional rule, specifichigher-level conditions 1108 associated with a specific first cell of ahigher-level table, specific lower-level conditions 1110 associated witha second cell or a plurality of second cells in the lower-level table,and a button 1112 for finalizing conditional rule for execution. Theselection of pre-defined conditional rule options 1106 and the specificlower-level conditions 1110 may generate the conditional rule trigger1102 associated with the plurality of second cells in “Status” secondcolumn 710A and “Stage” second column 712A of FIG. 7A, as describedabove. Similarly, the selection of pre-defined conditional rule options1106 and the specific higher-level conditions 1108 may generate theconditional rule action 1104 associated with the specific first cell704A in “Stage” first column 702A of FIG. 7A. The conditional ruletrigger 1102 may trigger a milestone update (e.g., the update of themilestone indicator or qualifying data) of the specific first cell 704Abased on the conditional rule action 1104.

Some embodiments may involve the at least one processor being furtherconfigured to receive from the rule-builder interface, specificvariables for each of the plurality of second cells, to prevent thespecific conditional rule to be triggered until each of the specificvariables exists in an associated second cell. Specific variables forcells may include any information that may be contained in the cells. Aconditional rule may include these specific variables to determine whenthe conditional rule should be triggered. These variables may beselected in the rule-builder interface to configure the qualifying datathat will trigger the conditional rule that may cause a milestoneindicator to be updated. For example, the specific variable may containthe qualifying data “Anything,” “Done,” “Stuck,” “Working on it,”“Reached,” “Research,” “Exploration,” “Full Design,” “Design Complete,”or any other indicators or information that may be used to indicatequalifying information as described above.

By way of example, FIG. 11 illustrates the rule-builder interface 1100having the conditional rule trigger 1102 with “Status” specific variable1114 having the qualifying data “anything” and “Stage” specific variable1116 having the qualifying data “Exploration.” Unless the “Status”specific variable 1114 and “Stage” specific variable 1116 have theirrespective variables meet the qualifying data met as configured, the atleast one processor may not trigger the conditional rule action 1104because the qualifying information may not be met.

Some embodiments may involve the at least one processor furtherconfigured to store the specific conditional rule as a template forapplication to additional lower-level tables. Storing a specificconditional rule as a template may include storing a specificconditional rule in memory for later application, such as in anon-transitory computer-readable medium. Once stored in memory, thespecific conditional rule may be accessed and reused for additionallower-level tables or even higher-level tables. For example, in anotherboard, the specific conditional rule may be applied to one or moreadditional lower-level tables associated with one or more higher-leveltables without needed to recreate the specific conditional rule in therule-builder interface from scratch.

By way of example, FIG. 12 illustrates the at least one processorstoring a specific conditional rule as a template for application toadditional lower-level tables, consistent with some embodiments of thepresent disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 12, rule-builder interface1200 may include a plurality of conditional rules that may have beengenerated previously. A user may request that a specific conditionalrule 1202 be stored as a template 1204 by the at least one processor forapplication to any future or additional lower-level tables.

FIG. 13 illustrates exemplary block diagram for an exemplary method forimplementing conditional rules in a hierarchical table structure,consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Method 1300,as shown in FIG. 13, with block 1302 may maintain presentation on aviewable interface a higher-level table structure having first rows,first columns and first cells at intersections of first rows and firstcolumns, as previously discussed. At block 1304, method 1300 maymaintain for presentation on the viewable interface a lower-level tablestructure having second rows, second columns and second cells atintersections of second rows and second columns, as previouslydiscussed. At block 1306, method 1300 link the lower-level table to aspecific first cell in the higher-level table, wherein the specificfirst cell is configured to present a milestone indicator, as previouslydiscussed. At block 1308, method 1300 may store a specific conditionalrule associating the specific first cell with a plurality of secondcells of the lower-level table, such that entry of qualifying data intoeach of the plurality of second cells triggers the specific conditionalrule to cause a change in the specific first cell of the higher-leveltable, as previously discussed. At block 1310, method 1300 may receivequalifying information from each of the plurality of second cells, aspreviously discussed. At block 1312, method 1300 may trigger, uponreceipt of the qualifying information from each of the plurality ofsecond cells, the specific conditional rule to thereby update milestoneinformation in the specific first cell of the higher-level table,consistent with the disclosure discussed above.

Some disclosed embodiments may relate to a system for automaticgeneration of customized lower-level table templates based on data in anassociated higher-level table structure. The system may involve at leastone processor (e.g., processor, processing circuit or other processingstructure described herein) and may be employed in collaborative worksystems. Lower-level table templates may refer to one or more temporaryor permanent table formats hierarchically arranged beneath a higherlevel table. The lower-level table template may be organized orpositioned into a tree-like structure, a cascade of tables, or an arrayof tables where the tables may be positioned, located, or embedded intoone or more other tables that may be at higher levels. The lower-leveltable templates may be configured to display data or information in oneor more cells, rows, and columns of a table. For example, a lower-leveltable template may be configured to augment a higher level table byproviding back-up information, additional information, and/orinformation related to the higher level table. Customized lower-leveltable templates may refer to lower-level table templates capable ofbeing modified, changed, rearranged, reformatted, edited, or anycombination thereof individually, in groups, globally, or anycombination thereof. Customized templates may have different formats orrepresentations of elements, data, information, and text inside thelower-level tables such that a template change may be reflected in oneor more lower-level tables. Furthermore, the customized lower-leveltable templates may be capable of being modified, such as through theaddition or removal of cells, rows, and columns. A higher-level tablestructure may refer to a table structure—having a plurality of rows,columns, and cells—that may be hierarchically arranged above one or moretables that may be at lower-levels. The higher-level table structure mayhave the function or characteristic of having one or more tables nested,positioned, located, or embedded beneath a row, a column, or a cell. Thehigher-level table structure may consist of rows, columns, and cells andmay have the function or characteristics of containing data orinformation that may change, alter, or update the structure or displayof data or information in one or more lower-level tables nested orembedded beneath the higher-level table structure. For example, datacontained in one or more cells of the higher-level table structure maycause the at least one processor to automatically generate one or morecustomized lower-level table templates for each row or cells of thehigher-level table structure. Each customized lower-level table templateassociated with higher-level table structure's rows or cells may be thesame or different from one another. The data or information in thehigher-level table structure may include text, numbers, links, objects,expressions, conditions, or formats, or a combination thereof that theat least one processor may automatically detect to generate customizedlower-level table templates.

By way of example, FIG. 14 illustrates an example view of customizedlower-level table templates based on data in an associated higher-leveltable structure, consistent with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 14 may include view 1400 that may include higher-leveltable structure 1402 having a plurality of rows, columns, and cells.View 1400 may also include a customized lower-level table template 1404that the at least one processor may position under row 1418 ofhigher-level table structure 1402. The at least one processor mayautomatically generate the customized lower-level table template 1404based on the data contained in the “Design Sundance” cell 1406.

Disclosed embodiments may involve maintaining the higher-level tablestructure having first rows, first columns, and first cells atintersections of first rows and first columns, wherein the first cellsmay be configured to hold values, and wherein the higher-level tablestructure may exhibit a plurality of characteristics including at leasttwo of a table type, a table grouping, table content, a table size, aparticular column heading, a particular item label, or an author.Maintaining a table structure may involve storing a template in memory.In another sense, maintaining a table structure may involve storing in adata structure information keyed to columns, rows, and/or cells in atable. The values in first cells may refer to data such as text,numbers, expressions, conditions, objects, links, formats, or acombination thereof, as described above. A plurality of characteristicsof a table (e.g., higher-level or lower-level) may refer to one or morevalues, traits, entities, relationships, associations, patterns,indicators, or any combination thereof. These characteristics mayinclude one or more of a table type, table grouping, table content,table size, particular column headings, particular item labels, orauthors. For example, table characteristics may include table type,table grouping, table content, table size, particular column heading,particular item label, or an author. Each higher level table may exhibitat least two of these characteristics.

A table type may refer to a category, classification, design, purpose,or description of a table. Differing tables may track differing types ofitems. For example, a real estate company may have a first type of tablethat it uses to track rentals of properties, a second type of table usedto track sales of properties, and a third type of table used to trackproperty renovations. Table grouping may refer to the collective or setarrangement into a unit of the combination of one or more higher-leveltables, one or more lower-level tables, or any combination thereof. Thetable grouping may be used by the at least one processor as an object toassign data or information associated with the higher-level tablestructure, the lower-level table, or any combination thereof. Tablecontent may refer to the values or data contained in the first cells ofthe higher-level table structure or the lower-level table. The tablecontent may be used by the at least one processor as an object to assigndata or information associated with the higher-level table structure,lower-level table, or any combination thereof. Table size may refer tothe overall or individual dimensions or magnitude—big or small—of thefirst rows, the first columns, the first cells, and the higher-leveltable structure or the lower-level table. The table size may be used bythe at least one processor as an object to assign data or informationassociated with the higher-level table structure, lower-level table, orany combination thereof. A particular column heading may refer to avalue descriptive of information in an associated column. The particularcolumn heading may be used by the at least one processor as an object toassign data or information associated with the higher-level tablestructure, lower-level table, or any combination thereof. A particularitem label may refer to values characterizing or being associated withdata in rows, columns, cells. The particular item label may also referto a title associated with a table grouping or row. The particular itemlabel may be used by the at least one processor as an object to assigndata or information associated with the higher-level table structure,lower-level table, or any combination thereof. An author may refer tothe owner, assignee, assignor, or creator of tasks, activities,assignments, or a combination thereof in a higher-level table or alower-level table. The author may be a value or data in cells, rows, orcolumns. The author may be used by the at least one processor as anobject to assign data or information associated with the higher-leveltable structure, lower-level table, or any combination thereof. Theplurality of characteristics may be used by the at least one processoras an object to assign data or information associated with thehigher-level table structure, lower-level table, or any combinationthereof. For example, the higher-level table structure may consist aplurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of cells.First cells may be at the intersection of first rows and first columns.

If, for example, a higher-level table structure has a plurality ofcharacteristics such as three groupings of items, and two particularcolumn headings (e.g., “Stage” and Status”), the system may identifythese characteristics for further analysis. The system may analyze othercharacteristics of the higher-level table structure such as a particularitem label (e.g., an item heading labeled as “Real Estate Property 1”)or author.

By way of example with reference to FIG. 1, the system may maintain anobject (e.g., a higher-level table structure) by storing it in memory120, in storage 130, or in both. FIG. 14 illustrates an example ofhigher-level table structure 1402 having a first row 1408, a firstcolumn 1410, and a first cell 1412 at the intersection of the first row1408 and the first column 1410. The higher-level table structure 1402may exhibit, as plurality of characteristics, a single table grouping1414, four particular column headings 1416—“Subitems,” “Owner,” “Dueby,” and “Stage”—, a particular item label 1406 having a value “DesignSundance,” and an author 1412.

Consistent with disclosed embodiments, a least one processor of thesystem may carry out operation that may involve receiving an input fortriggering generation of a lower-level table template tied to thehigher-level table structure. An input for triggering generation of alower-level table template may refer to an action by a user to cause,induce, or trigger at least one processor to generate a lower-leveltable template tied or associated with one or more first cells in thehigher-level table structure. In some instances, the addition of data toa higher-level table may trigger formation of a lower-level table. Inother instances, a lower-level table may be established in response to aspecific request of a user. In yet other instances, the lower-leveltemplate might automatically be associated with a higher-level tabletemplate through design or configuration of the system. The input fortriggering a lower-level template may include a change in one or morevalues in the first cells, particular column headings, particular itemlabels, or any combination or singular change in the higher-level table.In addition, the input for triggering may be a change in the table size,the table type, the table grouping, the table content, a particular itemlabel, the particular column heading, author, or any combinationthereof. The lower-level template may or may not be represented ordisplayed, and the at least one processor may store the lower-leveltemplate in the memory of the system. For example, the at least oneprocessor may detect that a value in a particular item label in thehigher-level table structure may have changed, which may trigger thegeneration of the lower-level table template. In another example, the atleast one processor may detect the addition of a particular columnheading and author in the higher-level table structure, which maytrigger the generation of the lower-level table template.

Some disclosed embodiments may involve triggering a lower-level tablestructure as a result of activation of a button. Activation of a buttonmay refer to a user pressing, touching, or clicking a button (actual orvirtual) to request the at least one processor to generate thelower-level table template that may be tied to the higher-level tablestructure.

By way of example, the at least one processor may store lower-leveltable template in the memory 120 in FIG. 1, the storage 130 in FIG. 1,or both. FIG. 15 illustrates examples views of receiving an input fortriggering the generation of a lower-level table template tied to thehigher-level table structure, consistent with some embodiments of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 15 illustrates a first view 1500 having ahigher-level table structure 1502 with a first row 1504. A user mayprovide the input by clicking on the first cell 1506 that may triggerthe at least one processor to generate a lower-level table template 1514in a second view 1510 or in memory, or any combination thereof. Thelower-level table template 1514 may be tied to a first row 1516 of ahigher-level table structure 1512 in the second view 1510. A lower-leveltable can be customized to suit the needs of users, and there is nohard-and fast structure required. In the instant example, a first row1516 of the lower-level table structure 1512 may be a repetition of afirst row 1504 of the higher-level table structure 1502. The lower-leveltable template 1514 may not be automatically displayed in second view1510, and may be retrieved from the system's memory when a user callsfor it (such as b clicking click the first cell 1506 in the first view1500).

Disclosed embodiments may also involve analyzing at least onehigher-level table characteristic including higher-level table type,higher-level table grouping, higher-level table content, higher-leveltable size, higher-level particular column heading, higher-levelparticular item label, or higher-level author. For example, the at leastone processor may analyze one or more of the higher-level tablecharacteristics previously described in order to determine a context foruse in selecting a lower-level table. Analysis may include examining thecharacteristics identified and/or metadata associated with thecharacteristics to aid in lower-level table structure selection. Forexample, each specific author may have their own preferred lower-leveltemplates. Therefore, analyzing author may facilitate lower-level tablestructure selection. By way of another example, lower-level tables maydiffer based on the table type of the upper-level table. In suchinstances, analyzing the table type of the higher-level table mayfacilitate selection of the lower-level table structure template.Similarly, differing groupings of items may each have their ownassociated lower-level template structure. In such instances, analyzingthe grouping to identify it may facilitate lower-level templateselection. By way of yet another example, analyzing table content, suchas through semantic analysis, may identify a correlation between thecontent and a lower-level table structure template. In a furtherexample, a larger table may typically be associated with a differinglower-level template than a smaller table. Analyzing the table size maytherefore facilitate lower-level table template selection. Similarly,since row/item and column headings may indicate a data type, and thedata type may correlate to preferred lower-level table structuretemplates, analysis of the row/item and column headings may be useful inlower-level table template selection. The analysis may be performed byat least one processor acting on information stored in the memory 120 inFIG. 1, the storage 130 in FIG. 1, or both. The analysis may involve theuse of artificial intelligence/machine learning as previously discussed.

Some embodiments may involve, based on the input and the analysis,determining a customization of the lower-level table template, thecustomization including at least one of a lower-level column heading ora lower-level row heading. A customization of the lower-level tabletemplate may refer to selection and/or customization of a lower leveltemplate from a group of pre-existing lower-level templates. Acustomization may also include a complete or partial construction of anew lower-level template. In either instance, the customization mayinclude a least one column or row heading. The column or row heading maycorrespond to or otherwise relate to information in an associatedhigher-level table. At least one processor may access a lower-leveltable template in memory to perform changes or alterations in theformat, color, size, values, data or information, or any combinationthereof of the rows, columns, or cells of the lower-level tabletemplate. A lower-level column heading may refer to a label or otherindicator associated with a column. The lower-level column heading maybe unique to the lower-level table template or may be the same as orsimilar to an associated higher-level particular column heading. Thelower level heading may alternatively be, unique to the lower-leveltable template. A lower-level row heading may refer to a label or otherindicator associated with one or more rows in a table. The lower-levelrow heading may be unique to the lower-level table template. Thecustomization of the lower-level table template may include an addition,subtraction, rearrangement, change, alteration, or any combinationthereof of the lower-level column heading or the lower-level rowheading. For example, the at least one processor may access its memoryto determine the customization of the lower-level table template basedon an analysis or evaluation of at least one higher-level tablecharacteristic. In another example, the at least one processor maydetermine the customization of the lower-level table template based onthe input in the higher-level table structure. The input, as describedabove, may be a change in one or more higher-level values in the firstcells, column heading, item label, table size, table type, tablegrouping, table content, activation of a button, or any combinationthereof. In yet another example, the at least one processor maysimultaneously determine the customization of the lower-level tabletemplate based on both the input and the analysis in the higher-leveltable structure. The at least one processor may continuously analyze andevaluate inputs triggering the generation of one or more lower-leveltable templates to determine the customization of the lower-level tabletemplates.

By way of example, FIG. 16 illustrates a customization of a lower-leveltable template based on the input and the analysis by at least oneprocessor, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure.As illustrated in FIG. 16, the at least one processor may receive aninput 1602 in higher-level table structure 1600 triggering thegeneration of a lower-level table template in memory 120, storage 130,or both (as illustrated in FIG. 1). Furthermore, the at least oneprocessor may analyze a higher-level author 1604 in a first cell toobtain the lower-level table template associated with the higher-levelauthor 1604. Moreover, the at least one processsor may analyze the valueof a higher-level particular column heading 1606—“Stage”—, the value ofa first higher-level particular item label 1608—“Design Complete”—in afirst cell, and the value of a second higher-level particular item label1610—“Design Braveheart”—to determine a customization of the lower-leveltable template 1612. The at least one processor may thereafter determinethe lower-level column heading 1614—“Owner,” “Status,” “Milestone,” and“Stage”—based on the higher-level author 1604, the higher-levelparticular column heading 1606, and the first higher-level particularitem label 1608. In addition, the at least one processor may determine arow heading 1616—“Integration and Test”—based on the value of the secondhigher-level item label 1610.

Disclosed embodiments may also involve associating the customizationwith the lower-level table template to form a customized lower-leveltable structure. As discussed above, the lower-level table structure mayinclude one or more rows, columns, and cells at the intersections of therows and columns. Based on the analysis described above, at least oneprocessor may determine the appropriate (e.g., best fit) lower leveltable template in order to define the structure of the associatedlower-level table. This may include, for example, inserting appropriatecolumn and row headings into the template. By either selecting atemplate from a group of predefined templates, customizing a templatefrom a group, or building a customized lower-level table from scratch,the system may be said to form a customized lower-level table structure.

By way of example, FIG. 17 illustrates associating the customizationwith the lower-level table template to form a customized lower-leveltable structure, consistent with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 17, a higher-level table structure1700 with first rows 1702 may include one or more values associated withthe at least one higher-level table characteristics. The at least oneprocessor may perform a customization of a lower-level table template aspreviously described to form a customized lower-level table structure1704 having a plurality of cells, columns, cells, lower-level columnheadings—“Owner,” “Phone Number,” “Status—, and lower-level rowheadings—“Vibration Testing,” “Thermal Cycling Testing,” “AcousticTesting,” and “Radiation Testing.” This may occur after the processoranalyzes the table type and recognizes the words “design products” and“Atlas.” Applying artificial intelligence, the system may realize thatthe higher-level table relates to a design of a product, and based onlower-level tables associated with other design projects, populates alower-level table with the types of testing typically associated withdesign projects.

Some embodiments may involve presenting options for lower-level templatestructure and receiving a selection in response. As an alternative tothe system picking the row headings, for example, the system may presentto the user options for selection. That is, the system may provide apick list or other form of display that permits a user to selectappropriate elements for a lower-level table. In FIG. 17, the varioustypes of testing may be presented to the user, and the user may decideto use some and not others. For example, if the Atlas project does notinvolve radiation, the user might opt not to select the radiationtesting row heading. The presentation may occur in the form of a listmenu, a drop-down menu, a visual representation of multiple lower-leveltemplate structures in an array, tabs containing each lower-leveltemplate structure, or any combination thereof on a graphical userinterface to alter, change, add, subtract, rearrange, reformat, resize,change color, or a combination thereof the lower-level templatestructure. The at least one processor may independently provide aplurality of options for a plurality of lower-level template structuresbased on the customization of the lower-level template. The at least oneprocessor may receive a selection in response. Such a selection may comefrom a user. For example, the at least one processor may display aplurality of views in an array on a graphical user interface of one ormore lower-level template structures that a user may select from.Furthermore, the at least one processor may store the selectedlower-level template structure for use in a lower-level table structure.

By way of another example, FIG. 17 illustrates example lower-leveltemplate structure 1704. In addition, the at least one processor maymake the lower-level template structure viewable to a user on agraphical user interface. The at least one processor may present to auser a drop-down menu 1706 listing a variety of options to change thelower-level template structure 1704. The user may select an option 1708to cause the at least one processor to dynamically change arepresentation or rendering of the lower-level template structure 1704according to the user's selection. Furthermore, the user may select oneor more options from the drop-down menu 1706 to cause the at least oneprocessor to dynamically change the representation or rendering of thelower-level template structure 1704.

Some disclosed embodiments may involve causing a lower-level tablestructure to be displayed in association with the higher-level tablestructure. Causing the lower-level table structure to be displayed inassociation with the higher-level table structure may involve the atleast one processor simultaneously displaying on a graphical userinterface both the lower-level table structure and the higher-leveltable structure. A lower-level table structure may include a structure,but in some instances may also include default values in the cells ofthe structure. For example, a lower-level table structure may bedisplayed in association with a higher-level table structure as a blankstructure, as a structure containing some data or information such asdefault values in cells, or may in some instances be fully populatedwith default values.

By way of example, FIG. 17 illustrates higher-level table structure 1700and the lower-level table structure 1704 being simultaneously displayedon a graphical user interface by the at least one processor.

Disclosed embodiments may further involve determining when conditions inthe higher-level table structure may meet a criterion for automaticallygenerating a lower-level table structure, and wherein the input mayoccur as a result of the determination that the criterion may be met.Conditions in the higher-level table structure may refer to events ortriggers associated at least one higher-level characteristic of thehigher-level table structure that may cause the at least one processorto recognize, store, or flag one or more values in the at least onehigher-level characteristic. Meeting a criterion may refer to apredetermined value being input in a table or a conditional changeoccurring in a table. Automatically generating a lower-level tablestructure may refer to the at least one processor independently creatingor generating the lower-level table structure in memory or for displayon a graphical user interface. The input may occur as a result of thedetermination that the criterion may be met. For example, a processormight recognize that the conditions in the higher-level table structuremay have met a criterion based on an input, as discussed above. Forinstance, upon recognition that for a specific higher-level author aparticular higher-level column heading becomes equal to “Stage,” the atleast one processor may automatically generate a lower-level tablestructure with a plurality of empty cells and specific columnheadings—“Owner,” “Status,” and “Stage.”

FIG. 16 illustrates an example view of the lower-level table structure1612 generated based the higher-level item label 1610 having the value“Design Braveheart.” The lower-level table structure 1612 may includespecific column headings 1614 and a plurality of cells.

Some embodiments may involve determining a customization of a pluralityof differing lower-level table structures depending on specificcharacteristics of the higher-level table structure. For example, the atleast one processor may recognize a value in a specific higher-levelitem label to cause a customization adding a specific lower-level columnheading to all lower-level table structures, where the added heading isassociated with a plurality of first rows in the higher-level tablestructure.

By way of example, FIG. 18 illustrates a customization of a plurality ofdiffering lower-level table structures depending on specificcharacteristics of the higher-level table structure, consistent withsome embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 includes ahigher-level table structure 1800 having a first row 1802, a second row1804, and other rows 1806. The first row 1802 may include a firstassociated lower-level table structure 1808, and the second row 1804 mayinclude a second associated lower-level table structure 1810. Becausethe first row 1802 includes a characteristic of an item heading labeled“Design Atlas,” the system may recognize the meaning of that heading andprovide a lower-level table structure 1808 with characteristicsassociated with the recognized heading. In this instance, the systemdetermined that a “Timeline” column 1812 was relevant to the “DesignAtlas” project. In contrast, because the second row 1804 of thehigher-level table 1800 includes a different characteristic (i.e.,“Design Rapid Fire’) the system may recognize the meaning of thatheading and provide a lower-level table structure 1814 with differingcharacteristics (in this instance an absence of a timeline column).

Some disclosed embodiments may involve receiving an instruction fortriggering generation of a sub-lower-level table template that may betied to the lower-level table structure; analyzing at least onelower-level table characteristic, including lower-level table type,lower-level table grouping, lower-level table content, lower-level tablesize, lower-level particular column heading, lower-level particular itemlabel, or lower-level author; based on the instruction and at least oneof the higher-level table characteristic and the lower lower-level tablecharacteristic, determining a customization of the sub-lower-level tabletemplate, the sub-lower lower-level customization including at least oneof a sub-lower-level column heading or a sub-lower-level row heading;associating the customization of the sub-lower-level table template withthe sub-lower-level table template to form a customized sub-lower-leveltable structure; and causing the sub-lower-level table structure to bedisplayed in association with the lower-level table structure. Just as alower-level table structure hierarchically appears beneath ahigher-higher level table structure, so too does a sub-lower level tablestructure appear beneath a lower-level table structure. Indeed, theearlier description of generating a lower-level table structurecorresponds to generation of a sub-lower-level table structure, andtherefore to avoid repetition, that description is invoked here. As withthe higher and lower pairing, the instruction for the lower andsub-lower pairing may be the input that the at least one processor mayreceive.

At least one processor may receive an instruction such as the activationof a button to generate a sub-lower-level table template; the at leastone processor may detect one or more values in both the at least onehigher-level table characteristic and the at least one lower-level tablecharacteristic to generate the sub-lower-level table template; or the atleast one processor may receive instructions and detect one or morevalues in the at least one higher-level table characteristic and the atleast one lower-level table characteristic to generate thesub-lower-level table template. The values detected may be ahigher-level particular column heading combined with the lower-levelauthor and lower-level content. Alternatively, the values detected maybe a higher-level table content, a higher-level table size, alower-level type, a lower-level table grouping, and a lower-levelauthor. Furthermore, the at least one processor may determine acustomization of the sub-lower-level table template where twosub-lower-level column headings and five sub-lower-level row headingsmay be added. Moreover, the at least one processor may apply thecustomization of the sub-lower-level table template to provide one ormore customized sub-lower-level table structures for a user to selectfrom. The at least one processor may simultaneously display on agraphical user interface both the lower-level table structure and thesub-lower-level table structure based on the selection in the one ormore customized sub-lower-level table structures.

By way of example, FIG. 19 illustrates the simultaneous display of ahigher-level table structure 1900, a lower-level table structure 1902,and a sub-lower-level table structure 1904. At least one processor mayreceive an instruction to generate the sub-lower-level table structurein response to a user pressing button 1906. In addition, the at leastone processor may determine a customization of the sub-lower-level tabletemplate based on the user pressing button 1906, a first higher-levelparticular item label 1908, a second higher-level particular item label1910, and a lower-level particular item label 1912. The firsthigher-level particular item label 1908 and the second higher-levelparticular item label 1910 may be the at least one higher-level tablecharacteristic. In addition, the lower-level particular item label 1912may be the at least one lower-level table characteristic. The at leastone processor may associate the customization of the sub-lower-leveltable template with the sub-lower-level table structure 1904 forsimultaneous display with the lower-level table structure 1902.

Some disclosed embodiments may involve storing the lower-level templatestructure for use with a later-developed higher-level table structureclone. The lower-level template structure may be stored in memory,storage, or the combination thereof. A later-developed higher-leveltable structure clone may refer to a copy or an identical representationof the higher-level table structure including all lower-level tabletemplates, customization of the lower-level templates, customizedlower-level table structures, and lower-level table structuresassociated with the higher-level table structure. For example, the atleast one processor may store the higher-level table structureassociated with a board, as discussed above, as a copy in memory,storage, or the combination thereof for later implementation orapplication to another board of the system or platform. Thelater-developed higher-level table structure may be customized accordingto instructions received by the at least one processor.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of an exemplary methodfor generating customized lower-level table templates based on data inan associated higher-level table structure, consistent with someembodiments of the present disclosure. Method 2000, as shown in FIG. 20,with block 2002 may maintain the higher-level table structure havingfirst rows, first columns, and first cells at intersections of firstrows and first columns, wherein the first cells may be configured tohold values, and wherein the higher-level table structure may exhibit aplurality of characteristics including at least two of a table type, atable grouping, table content, a table size, a particular columnheading, a particular item label, or an author, as previously discussed.At block 2004, method 2000 may receive an input for triggeringgeneration of a lower-level table template tied to the higher-leveltable structure, as previously discussed. At block 2006, method 2000 mayanalyze at least one higher-level table characteristic includinghigher-level table type, higher-level table grouping, higher-level tablecontent, higher-level table size, higher-level particular columnheading, higher-level particular item label, or higher-level author, aspreviously discussed. At block 2008, method 2000 may, based on the inputand the analysis, determine a customization of the lower-level tabletemplate, the customization including at least one of a lower-levelcolumn heading or a lower-level row heading, as previously discussed. Atblock 2010, method 2000 may associate the customization with thelower-level table template to form a customized lower-level tablestructure, as previously discussed. At block 2012, method 2000 may causethe lower-level table structure to be displayed in association with theupper-level table structure, consistent with the disclosure discussedabove.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art. The materials, methods, and examples provided herein areillustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Implementation of the method and system of the present disclosure mayinvolve performing or completing certain selected tasks or stepsmanually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, accordingto actual instrumentation and equipment of preferred embodiments of themethod and system of the present disclosure, several selected steps maybe implemented by hardware (HW) or by software (SW) on any operatingsystem of any firmware, or by a combination thereof. For example, ashardware, selected steps of the disclosure could be implemented as achip or a circuit. As software or algorithm, selected steps of thedisclosure could be implemented as a plurality of software instructionsbeing executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In anycase, selected steps of the method and system of the disclosure could bedescribed as being performed by a data processor, such as a computingdevice for executing a plurality of instructions.

As used herein, the terms “machine-readable medium” “computer-readablemedium” refers to any computer program product, apparatus and/or device(e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, Programmable Logic Devices(PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to aprogrammable processor, including a machine-readable medium thatreceives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term“machine-readable signal” refers to any signal used to provide machineinstructions and/or data to a programmable processor.

Various implementations of the systems and techniques described here canbe realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry,specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits),computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof.These various implementations can include implementation in one or morecomputer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on aprogrammable system including at least one programmable processor, whichmay be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data andinstructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storagesystem, at least one input device, and at least one output device.

Although the present disclosure is described with regard to a “computingdevice”, a “computer”, or “mobile device”, it should be noted thatoptionally any device featuring a data processor and the ability toexecute one or more instructions may be described as a computing device,including but not limited to any type of personal computer (PC), aserver, a distributed server, a virtual server, a cloud computingplatform, a cellular telephone, an IP telephone, a smartphone, a smartwatch or a PDA (personal digital assistant). Any two or more of suchdevices in communication with each other may optionally comprise a“network” or a “computer network”.

To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniquesdescribed here can be implemented on a computer having a display device(a LED (light-emitting diode), or OLED (organic LED), or LCD (liquidcrystal display) monitor/screen) for displaying information to the userand a keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse or a trackball) bywhich the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devicescan be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example,feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback (e.g.,visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback); and input fromthe user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, ortactile input.

The systems and techniques described here can be implemented in acomputing system that includes a back end component (e.g., as a dataserver), or that includes a middleware component (e.g., an applicationserver), or that includes a front end component (e.g., a client computerhaving a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a usercan interact with an implementation of the systems and techniquesdescribed here), or any combination of such back end, middleware, orfront end components. The components of the system can be interconnectedby any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., acommunication network). Examples of communication networks include alocal area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), and theInternet.

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

It should be appreciated that the above described methods and apparatusmay be varied in many ways, including omitting or adding steps, changingthe order of steps and the type of devices used. It should beappreciated that different features may be combined in different ways.In particular, not all the features shown above in a particularembodiment or implementation are necessary in every embodiment orimplementation of the invention. Further combinations of the abovefeatures and implementations are also considered to be within the scopeof some embodiments or implementations of the invention.

While certain features of the described implementations have beenillustrated as described herein, many modifications, substitutions,changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. Itis, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications and changes as fall within the scope of theimplementations. It should be understood that they have been presentedby way of example only, not limitation, and various changes in form anddetails may be made. Any portion of the apparatus and/or methodsdescribed herein may be combined in any combination, except mutuallyexclusive combinations. The implementations described herein can includevarious combinations and/or sub-combinations of the functions,components and/or features of the different implementations described.

Disclosed embodiments may include any one of the followingbullet-pointed features alone or in combination with one or more otherbullet-pointed features, whether implemented as a method, by at leastone processor, and/or stored as executable instructions onnon-transitory computer-readable media:

-   -   maintaining for presentation on a viewable interface a        higher-level table structure having first rows, first columns        and first cells at intersections of first rows and first        columns;    -   maintaining for presentation on the viewable interface a        lower-level table structure having second rows, second columns        and second cells at intersections of second rows and second        columns;    -   linking the lower-level table to a specific first cell in the        higher-level table;    -   wherein the specific first cell is configured to present a        milestone indicator;    -   storing a specific conditional rule associating the specific        first cell with a plurality of second cells of the lower-level        table, such that entry of qualifying data into each of the        plurality of second cells triggers the specific conditional rule        to cause a change in the specific first cell of the higher-level        table;    -   receiving qualifying information from each of the plurality of        second cells;    -   upon receipt of the qualifying information from each of the        plurality of second cells, triggering the specific conditional        rule to thereby update milestone information in the specific        first cell of the higher-level table;    -   wherein prior to updating the specific first cell, the specific        first cell is empty and updating causes the milestone indicator        to be added to the specific first cell;    -   wherein prior to updating of the specific first cell, the        specific first cell contains an original milestone indicator and        updating causes the original milestone indicator to be replaced        by an updated milestone indicator thereby reflecting progress in        a workflow;    -   causing the lower-level table to be selectively expandable and        collapsible on the viewable interface and upon receipt of a        collapsing command, cause the lower-level table to be hidden        from view;    -   receiving from a rule-builder interface, specific conditions in        second cells of the lower-level table that trigger the milestone        update in the first specific cell of the higher-level table;    -   receiving from the rule-builder interface, specific variables        for each of the plurality of second cells, to prevent the        specific conditional rule to be triggered until each of the        specific variables exists in an associated second cell;    -   storing the specific conditional rule as a template for        application to additional lower-level tables;    -   maintaining the higher-level table structure having first rows,        first columns, and first cells at intersections of the first        rows and first columns;    -   wherein the first cells are configured to hold values;    -   wherein the higher-level table structure exhibits a plurality of        characteristics including at least two of a table type, a table        grouping, table content, a table size, a particular column        heading, a particular item label, or an author;    -   receiving an input for triggering generation of a lower-level        table template tied to the higher-level table structure;    -   analyzing at least one higher-level table characteristic        including a higher-level table type, higher-level table        grouping, higher-level table content, higher-level table size,        higher-level particular column heading, higher-level particular        item label, or higher-level author;    -   based on the input and the analysis, determining a customization        of the lower-level table template, the customization including        at least one of a lower-level column heading or a lower-level        row heading;    -   associating the customization with the lower-level table        template to form a customized lower-level table structure;    -   causing the lower-level table structure to be displayed in        association with the higher-level table structure;    -   wherein the triggering occurs as a result of activation of a        button;    -   determining when conditions in the higher-level table structure        meet a criterion for automatically generating a lower-level        table structure;    -   wherein the input occurs as a result of the determination that        the criterion is met;    -   determining a customization of a plurality of differing        lower-level table structures depending on specific        characteristics of the higher-level table structure;    -   receiving an instruction for triggering generation of a        sub-lower-level table template tied to the lower-level table        structure;    -   analyzing at least one lower-level table characteristic,        including lower-level table type, lower-level table grouping,        lower-level table content, lower-level table size, lower-level        particular column heading, lower-level particular item label, or        lower-level author;    -   based on the instruction and at least one of the higher-level        table characteristic and the lower-level table characteristic,        determining a customization of the sub-lower-level table        template, the sub-lower-level customization including at least        one of a sub-lower-level column heading or a sub-lower-level row        heading;    -   associating the customization of the sub-lower-level table        template with the sub-lower-level table template to form a        customized sub-lower-level table structure;    -   causing the sub-lower-level table structure to be displayed in        association with the lower-level table structure;    -   wherein determining the customization of the lower-level table        template includes presenting options for lower-level template        structure and receiving a selection in response; and    -   storing the lower-level template structure for use with a        later-developed higher-level table structure clone.

Systems and methods disclosed herein involve unconventional improvementsover conventional approaches. Descriptions of the disclosed embodimentsare not exhaustive and are not limited to the precise forms orembodiments disclosed. Modifications and adaptations of the embodimentswill be apparent from consideration of the specification and practice ofthe disclosed embodiments. Additionally, the disclosed embodiments arenot limited to the examples discussed herein.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes ofillustration. It is not exhaustive and is not limited to the preciseforms or embodiments disclosed. Modifications and adaptations of theembodiments will be apparent from consideration of the specification andpractice of the disclosed embodiments. For example, the describedimplementations include hardware and software, but systems and methodsconsistent with the present disclosure may be implemented as hardwarealone.

It is appreciated that the above described embodiments can beimplemented by hardware, or software (program codes), or a combinationof hardware and software. If implemented by software, it can be storedin the above-described computer-readable media. The software, whenexecuted by the processor can perform the disclosed methods. Thecomputing units and other functional units described in the presentdisclosure can be implemented by hardware, or software, or a combinationof hardware and software. One of ordinary skill in the art will alsounderstand that multiple ones of the above described modules/units canbe combined as one module or unit, and each of the above describedmodules/units can be further divided into a plurality of sub-modules orsub-units.

The block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture,functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems,methods, and computer hardware or software products according to variousexample embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, eachblock in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment,or portion of code, which includes one or more executable instructionsfor implementing the specified logical functions. It should beunderstood that in some alternative implementations, functions indicatedin a block may occur out of order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may be executed or implemented substantiallyconcurrently, or two blocks may sometimes be executed in reverse order,depending upon the functionality involved. Some blocks may also beomitted. It should also be understood that each block of the blockdiagrams, and combination of the blocks, may be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions oracts, or by combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

In the foregoing specification, embodiments have been described withreference to numerous specific details that can vary from implementationto implementation. Certain adaptations and modifications of thedescribed embodiments can be made. Other embodiments can be apparent tothose skilled in the art from consideration of the specification andpractice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that thespecification and examples be considered as example only, with a truescope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the followingclaims. It is also intended that the sequence of steps shown in figuresare only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be limited toany particular sequence of steps. As such, those skilled in the art canappreciate that these steps can be performed in a different order whileimplementing the same method.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the present disclosureare not limited to the exact construction that has been described aboveand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and that variousmodifications and changes may be made without departing from the scopethereof.

Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification and practice of the disclosedembodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spiritof the disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims.

Computer programs based on the written description and methods of thisspecification are within the skill of a software developer. The variousprograms or program modules can be created using a variety ofprogramming techniques. One or more of such software sections or modulescan be integrated into a computer system, non-transitory computerreadable media, or existing software.

Moreover, while illustrative embodiments have been described herein, thescope includes any and all embodiments having equivalent elements,modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across variousembodiments), adaptations or alterations based on the presentdisclosure. The elements in the claims are to be interpreted broadlybased on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examplesdescribed in the present specification or during the prosecution of theapplication. These examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.Further, the steps of the disclosed methods can be modified in anymanner, including by reordering steps or inserting or deleting steps. Itis intended, therefore, that the specification and examples beconsidered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit beingindicated by the following claims and their full scope of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for automatic generation of customizedlower-level table templates based on data in an associated higher-leveltable structure, the system comprising: at least one processorconfigured to: maintain the higher-level table structure having firstrows, first columns, and first cells at intersections of the first rowsand first columns, wherein the first cells are configured to holdvalues, and wherein the higher-level table structure exhibits aplurality of characteristics including at least two of a table type, atable grouping, table content, a table size, a particular columnheading, a particular item label, or an author; receive an input fortriggering generation of a lower-level table template tied to thehigher-level table structure; analyze at least one higher-level tablecharacteristic including a higher-level table type, higher-level tablegrouping, higher-level table content, higher-level table size,higher-level particular column heading, higher-level particular itemlabel, or higher-level author; based on the input and the analyzing ofthe at least one higher-level table characteristic, determine acustomization of the lower-level table template, the customizationincluding at least one of a lower-level column heading; associate thecustomization with the lower-level table template to form a customizedlower-level table structure having a customized lower-level columnheading and an empty table beneath the column heading; and cause thelower-level table structure with the customized lower-level columnheading and the empty table to be displayed in association with thehigher-level table structure.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thetriggering occurs as a result of activation of a button.
 3. The systemof claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured todetermine when conditions in the higher-level table structure meet acriterion for automatically generating a lower-level table structure,and wherein the input occurs as a result of the determination that thecriterion is met.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to determine a customization of aplurality of differing lower-level table structures depending onspecific characteristics of the higher-level table structure.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to: receive an instruction for triggering generation of asub-lower-level table template tied to the lower-level table structure;analyze at least one lower-level table characteristic, includinglower-level table type, lower-level table grouping, lower-level tablecontent, lower-level table size, lower-level particular column heading,lower-level particular item label, or lower-level author; based on theinstruction and at least one of the higher-level table characteristicand the lower-level table characteristic, determine a customization ofthe sub-lower-level table template, the sub-lower-level customizationincluding at least one of a sub-lower-level column heading or asub-lower-level row heading; associate the customization of thesub-lower-level table template with the sub-lower-level table templateto form a customized sub-lower-level table structure; and cause thesub-lower-level table structure to be displayed in association with thelower-level table structure.
 6. The system of claim 1, whereindetermining the customization of the lower-level table template includespresenting options for lower-level template structure and receiving aselection in response.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at leastone processor is further configured to store the lower-level templatestructure for use with a later-developed higher-level table structureclone.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor isconfigured to apply artificial intelligence to associate thecustomization with the lower-level table template to form the customizedlower-level table.
 9. A non-transitory computer readable mediumcontaining instructions that when executed by at least one processor,cause the at least one processor to perform operations for automaticgeneration of customized lower-level table templates based on data in anassociated higher-level table structure, the operations comprising:maintaining the higher-level table structure having first rows, firstcolumns, and first cells at intersections of first rows and firstcolumns, wherein the first cells are configured to hold values, andwherein the higher-level table structure exhibits a plurality ofcharacteristics including at least two of a table type, a tablegrouping, table content, a table size, a particular column heading, aparticular item label, or an author; receiving an input for triggeringgeneration of a lower-level table template tied to the higher-leveltable structure; analyzing at least one higher-level tablecharacteristic including higher-level table type, higher-level tablegrouping, higher-level table content, higher-level table size,higher-level particular column heading, higher-level particular itemlabel, or higher-level author; based on the input and the analyzing ofthe at least one higher-level table characteristic, determining acustomization of the lower-level table template, the customizationincluding at least one of a lower-level column heading; associating thecustomization with the lower-level table template to form a customizedlower-level table structure having a customized lower-level columnheading and an empty table beneath the column heading; and causing thelower-level table structure with the customized lower-level columnheading and the empty table to be displayed in association with thehigher-level table structure.
 10. The non-transitory computer readablemedium of claim 9, wherein the triggering occurs as a result ofactivation of a button.
 11. The non-transitory computer readable mediumof claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise determining whenconditions in the higher-level table structure meet a criterion forautomatically generating a lower-level table structure, and wherein theinput occurs as a result of the determination that the criterion is met.12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein theoperations further comprise determining a customization of a pluralityof differing lower-level table structures depending on specificcharacteristics of the higher-level table structure.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein theoperations further comprise: receiving an instruction for triggeringgeneration of a sub-lower-level table template tied to the lower-leveltable structure; analyzing at least one lower-level tablecharacteristic, including lower-level table type, lower-level tablegrouping, lower-level table content, lower-level table size, lower-levelparticular column heading, lower-level particular item label, orlower-level author; based on the instruction and at least one of thehigher-level table characteristic and the lower-level tablecharacteristic, determining a customization of the sub-lower-level tabletemplate, the sub-lower-level customization including at least one of asub-lower-level column heading or a sub-lower-level row heading;associating the customization of the sub-lower-level table template withthe sub-lower-level table template to form a customized sub-lower-leveltable structure; and causing the sub-lower-level table structure to bedisplayed in association with the lower-level table structure.
 14. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein determiningthe customization of the lower-level table template includes presentingoptions for lower-level template structure and receiving a selection inresponse.
 15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14,wherein the operations further comprise storing the lower-level templatestructure for use with a later-developed higher-level table structureclone.
 16. A method for automatic generation of customized lower-leveltable templates based on data in an associated higher-level tablestructure, the method comprising: maintaining the higher-level tablestructure having first rows, first columns, and first cells atintersections of first rows and first columns, wherein the first cellsare configured to hold values, and wherein the higher-level tablestructure exhibits a plurality of characteristics including at least twoof a table type, a table grouping, table content, a table size, aparticular column heading, a particular item label, or an author;receiving an input for triggering generation of a lower-level tabletemplate tied to the higher-level table structure; analyzing at leastone higher-level table characteristic including higher-level table type,higher-level table grouping, higher-level table content, higher-leveltable size, higher-level particular column heading, higher-levelparticular item label, or higher-level author; based on the input andthe analyzing of the at least one higher-level table characteristic,determining a customization of the lower-level table template, thecustomization including at least one of a lower-level column heading;associating the customization with the lower-level table template toform a customized lower-level table structure having a customizedlower-level column heading and an empty table beneath the columnheading; and causing the lower-level table structure with the customizedlower-level column heading and the empty table to be displayed inassociation with the upper-level table structure.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the triggering occurs as a result of activation of abutton.
 18. The method of claim 16, the method further comprisingdetermining when conditions in the higher-level table structure meet acriterion for automatically generating a lower-level table structure,and wherein the input occurs as a result of the determination that thecriterion is met.
 19. The method of claim 16, the method furthercomprising determining a customization of a plurality of differinglower-level table structures depending on specific characteristics ofthe higher-level table structure.
 20. The method of claim 16, the methodfurther comprising: receiving an instruction for triggering generationof a sub-lower-level table template tied to the lower-level tablestructure; analyzing at least one lower-level table characteristic,including lower-level table type, lower-level table grouping,lower-level table content, lower-level table size, lower-levelparticular column heading, lower-level particular item label, orlower-level author; based on the instruction and at least one of thehigher-level table characteristic and the lower-level tablecharacteristic, determining a customization of the sub-lower-level tabletemplate, the sub-lower-level customization including at least one of asub-lower-level column heading or a sub-lower-level row heading;associating the customization of the sub-lower-level table template withthe sub-lower-level table template to form a customized sub-lower-leveltable structure; and causing the sub-lower-level table structure to bedisplayed in association with the lower-level table structure.
 21. Themethod of claim 16, wherein determining the customization of thelower-level table template includes presenting options for lower-leveltemplate structure and receiving a selection in response.